A Europe of the Regions vs. the Regions in Europe: Reflections on Regional Engagement in Brussels

Analysis of regional representation in the EU today provides us with something of a paradox. Whilst the idea of a Europe of the Regions replacing a state-centred EU has been marginalized in mainstream political thought, regional actors continue to strengthen their engagement with European affairs and to challenge central state authority directly in the EU arena. This article argues that one can best understand this paradox by assessing the strategic objectives of the various 'types' of regional representations. Idealism has been replaced by a pragmatic focus at the Brussels level on securing outcomes appropriate to the EU aims of different sets of regional actors.